Gas supplies 'unlikely to be affected by Russia-Ukraine row' - Enemalta

Malta should not be affected by Russia's stoppage of gas supplies to Europe because its gas comes from European sources and is shipped over from France, Enemalta said yesterday.

Moreover, Malta imports liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is in a completely different state from the natural gas in the pipelines in question, it said.

Russian gas supplies via Ukraine to south-eastern Europe and Turkey were halted yesterday after provisions intended for Ukraine's domestic use were switched off on New Year's Day.

Ukraine's state energy firm said Russia had cut flows through its territory by two thirds, jeopardising supplies to countries including Germany, while Austria and the Czech Republic have reported sharp falls in supplies in the deepening row between Moscow and Kiev over prices and debts.

Europe receives about a third of its gas from pipelines via Ukraine, so the move has sent jitters through its energy markets, according to Reuters.

However, Enemalta chairman Alexander Tranter said Malta's supplier was Europe-based and the product comes from European sources. Malta had changed its supplier from French Total to a Dutch-French company a few months ago, he said.

While some countries are in a crisis situation, most of the larger ones have substantial amounts of gas stockpiled after several mild winters and have access to supplies from sources such as Norway and Algeria, Reuters reported.

In 2006, practically to the date, a similar situation between Russia and Ukraine prompted a gas shortage in Europe but had no impact on Malta.